Catheter balloon having stretchable integrated circuitry and sensor array

Abstract

A system, device and method are presented for utilizing stretchable active integrated circuits with inflatable bodies. The invention allows for such operative features to come into direct contact with body structures, such as the inner wall of a lumen. Such direct contact increases accuracy of measurement and delivery of therapy.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 103,361 entitled “Catheter Balloon Sensor and Imaging Arrays” filed on Oct. 7, 2008 (the “361 provisional”), the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. This application also claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 113,007 entitled “Catheter Balloon with Sensor and Imaging Array” filed Nov. 10, 2008 (the “'007 provisional), the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to systems, apparatuses, and methods utilizing expandable or stretchable integrated circuitry and sensor arrays on expandable or stretchable materials, and in a particular, on balloon catheters.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Intraluminal devices have become important in the diagnoses and treatment of a variety of medical conditions ranging from conditions associated with the digestive system to co...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Current intraluminal sensing and therapeutic devices suffer from various disadvantages due to a lack of sophistication related to the sensing, imaging, and therapeutic functions.

In some cases, such lack of sophistication resides in the fact that many such devices are configured with passive circuitry.

In the case where intraluminal devices have such active integrated circuits, such devices suffer from other disadvantages not the least of which is that such devices are unable to achieve direct contact with the part of the body being measured.

The inability to achieve direct contact of such devices is attributable to the rigid nature of the operative devices and accompanying circuitry.

This rigidity prevents devices from coming into full contact with soft, pliable, curved, and / or irregularly shaped tissue, which compromises accuracy of measurements.

Plaque deposits in the arterial lumen are widely recognized as a common cause of myocardial infarction, unstable angina, and even death.

Based on size and the effects of shear stress exerted by the flow of blood, the enclosure formed by the thin fibrous caps is susceptible to mechanical rupture.

Moreover, it is difficult to distinguish between vulnerable and stable plaque based purely on extracorporeal imaging techniques.

Although this type of device can theoretically estimate the temperature at the plaque, complications and errors can arise.

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